Composition for cleaning plate-printing presses.



,UTED STATES Patented January 17, 1965.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS R. DEMERY AND GEORGE W. SOHOOLEY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPOSITION FOR CLEANING PLATE-PRINTING PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,328, dated January1'7, 1905.

Application filed October 15,1904- Serial No. 228,617.

T0 (all 1.0710771, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS R. DEMERY and GEORGE Y. SoHooLEY, citizensof the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphinand State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements inCompositions for Cleaning Plate-Printing Presses, of which the followingis a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in compounds particularly designedfor cleaning or polishing purposes in connection with plate-printingpresses.

It has for its object to polish the plates in course of printing withpreferably a rag or like suitable means treated to the compound, thusobviating the slow and somewhat diflicult manner of effecting thepolishing operation with the palm of the hand with what is termedwhiting.

Said invention consists of the ingredients compounded in the proportionsand the manner substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, andparticularly pointed out by the claims.

In the practicing of our invention we take one (1) quart of spirits ofammonia and add thereto a quarter (9;) of an ounce of carbonate ofpotash, three-quarters (2-) of an ounce of camphorated oil, threequarters of an ounce of oil of sassafras, and four L) ounces of clearstarch, the same readily amalgamating, as will be appreciated. For thetreatment of copper plates we use one-half (t) ounce of carbonate ofpotash instead of onequarter (a) of an ounce thereof.

A piece of what may be called cheesecloth or other suitable material isfirst used as a Wiper for the removal of surplus ink from the surface ofthe plate. A second piece of like or other suitable material ismoistened or saturated. with the compound and passed or rubbed over theentire surface of the plate, effectively cleaning said surface withoutdisturbing or affecting the ink in the engraving. 1t isalso noted thatin applying our cleaning compound the rag or other vehicle employedtherefor, although having absorbed from previous wipings considerablequantities of ink, will continue to be serviceable for effectingsubsequent Wipings or without depositing ink upon the subsequently-wipedplate-surfaces, thus overcoming the otherwise impractical character ofthe same, as would be the case were it necessary to renew the rag foreach wiping or cleaning. It is further noted that care should be takento have the applying or wiping rag or vehicle no more than damp or haveit free from excess of moisture. Otherwise such excess would bedeposited upon the plate-surface, which would result in a soiled sheet.

We claim- 1. The herein-described composition of matter, consisting ofspirits of ammonia, carbonate of potash, camphorated oil, oil ofsassafras, and starch, substantially as described and for the purposedescribed.

2. The herein-described composition of matter consisting of spiritsofa1n1nonia,one quart; carbonate of potash, quarter of an ounce;camphorated oil, three-quarters of an ounce; oil of Sassafras,three-quarters of an ounce; and starch, four ounces, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

THOMAS R. DEMERY. GEORGE W. SCHOOLEY. Witnesses:

AMEDEO BRANK, Geo. A. HovER'rER.

